Seminario Arcivescovile di Napoli, Naples

The Archiepiscopal Seminary of Naples serves as the diocesan seminary for the archdiocese of Naples. It is situated in the Capodimonte area of Naples and currently accommodates both the major seminary, which is named after Cardinal Alessio Ascalesi, and the minor seminary, which is named after Pope Paul VI.

The idea to construct the present seminary was proposed by Cardinal Alfredo Ildefonso Schuster during his visit to Naples. The previous facility had become too cramped and inadequate for the training requirements of the seminarians. The responsibility for the construction project was entrusted to the engineer Tirone, who drew inspiration from the design of the royal palace. Upon the recommendation of Pope Pius, construction commenced in 1930, and the new seminary was officially inaugurated on June 24, 1934, by Cardinal Alessio Ascalesi, the archbishop of Naples.

Following the devastating Irpinia earthquake in 1980, several valuable artworks salvaged from collapsed or damaged churches were safeguarded within the seminary. Notably, these included three Renaissance statues by Girolamo Santacroce (located in the main chapel), two eighteenth-century canvases by Antonio Sarnelli, and a pictorial series depicting the life of Moses.

On June 29, 1985, the seminary was renamed the Cardinal Alessio Ascalesi Seminary by the then-archbishop of Naples, Corrado Ursi, in honor of Cardinal Ascalesi, who had played a significant role in establishing the new headquarters.

Since 2003, under the direction of Archbishop Michele Giordano, the seminary has also housed the minor seminary, which was previously situated at Villa Bozzi ai Ponti Rossi.